Jackson Cookware CEO Bob Miles was wrestling with the pros and cons of bringing a second son into the family business. His younger son, who had always been interested in the family business, had recently come on board fulltime when his brother, a Harvard MBA, was fired from his position as an investment banker. In this case, students are asked to consider the various issues Miles faces as he determines whether or not to invite his elder son to also join the business.

Professor Low is an experienced entrepreneur and a leading authority on entrepreneurship in independent, corporate and not-for-profit settings. As the founder of the Columbia Entrepreneurship Program, he has worked...